Tubes to display alpha-numeric characters and read-out circuits for use therewith

ABSTRACT

A numerical display system has a dual-number cathode glow tube with separate anodes and interconnected cathodes to permit selective display of alternative sets of numbers in the tube. A tube having two display windows comprises two vertically positioned numerical displays having half cylindrical anodes separated by an insulating disc and having commonly connected cathodes of the same number, all mounted on a single connector arrangement. The cathodes and anodes are driven separately from counter registers of an electronic calculating machine for selective cathode glow lighting in response to pulse countout of register information.

United. States Patent lnventor Norbert Kitz London, England Appl. No. 757,372 Filed Sept. 4, 1968 Patented July 20, 1971 Assignee Bell Punch Company Limited London, England Priority Sept. 15, 1967 Great Britain 42 234/67 TUBES TO DISPLAY ALPHA-NUMERIC CHARACTERS AND READ-OUT CIRCUITS FOR USE THEREWITH I 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 340/343, 313/109.5, 313/210, 340/324 Int. Cl ll0lj 17/00 Field of Search 340/343,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,618,697 11/1952 Metcalf 313/210 X 2,906,906 9/1959 McCauley et al.. 313/1095 X 3,343,032 9/1967 David etal 340/344 X Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-David 1.. Traiton Attorney-Laurence R. Brown ABSTRACT: A numerical display system has a dual-number cathode glow tube with separate anodes and interconnected cathodes to permit selective display of alternative sets of numbers in the tube.'A tube having two display windows comprises two vertically positioned numerical displays having half cylindrical anodes separated by an insulating disc and having commonly connected cathodes of the same number, all mounted on a single connector arrangement. The cathodes and anodes are driven separately from counter registers of an electronic calculating machine for selective cathode glow lighting in response to pulse countout of register information.

PATENTEU JUL20 1971 SHEET 1 [IF 4 INVEN'FO R Novbevi KltL BY QM QGQNW PATENTEDJULZOIHYI 3,594,779

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PATENTED JUL20 19?:

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TIUWES TU DEFEAT ALW'IA-NUMIEIUB CHARACTERS AND READ-OUT QlllitlCtIllTS ll tl llt IUSlE Tl llEltEVl/ll'llhl also has reference to readout circuits for use with such alphal0 numeric characters.

Electronic calculating machines, for example, of the kind described in the specification of our US. Pat. application Ser. No. 632,234, include a plurality of registers, each register having a plurality of stages and each stage representing a different denomination. Thus in a calculating machine the first register stage may represent units, the second register stage may represent tens, and the third stage register may represent hun dreds, etc. When a calculating operation is effected numbers are entered into and stored in the various registers to represent a number which is the result of a calculation. A number tube is associated with each register stage and is so connected that each number tube indicates the number stored in the associated register. This number tube usually includes an anode and a plurality of cathodes stacked within an envelope of glass or other transparent material. The cathodes are each in the form of a number and each cathode is connected to a different part of the register circuit. Each of the different parts of the circuit correspond to a number which may be stored in the register and the connections are so made that the cathode representing the numeral i will have a glow discharge formed around it when the number ii is stored in the associated register stage and a glow discharge will be formed around number 2 when the number 2 is stored in the associated register stage, etc.

In the specification of our copending British Application for Patent, No. 4232/66, there is described a number tube for use in a dynamic readout circuit in a calculating machine. Such number tubes include an anode and a plurality of numbered cathodes contained in an envelope having therein an atmosphere of rare gases and a quantity of mercury vapor. Such a number tube is normally incorporated in a display readout device which reads out the number stored in a stage of an electronic register of a calculating machine. It is sometimes required in a calculating machine to include a plurality, usually two, of display devices each device including a plurality of separate number tubes, each tube being connected to a separate stage of a register to read out the numbers stored in separate stages of the register of the calculating machine. The electrical connections to such display devices become complex.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improve number tube capable of indicating the number stored in different stages of a register or in the same stage of a different register.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a tube to display alpha-numeric characters includes an envelope, a first set of alpha-numeric cathodes, a second set of alpha-numeric cathodes, a first anode cooperating with the first set of alpha-numeric cathodes and a second anode cooperating with the second set of alphanumeric cathodes and wherein each cathode of the first set of cathodes is connected to a respective one of the cathodes of the second set of cathodes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a readout circuit comprises a pair of multistage registers, a number tube, a readout circuit comprising a pair of multistage registers; a number tube associated with a corresponding stage of the registers, each of the number tubes having an envelope, a first set of numbered cathode electrodes, a second set of numbered cathode electrodes, the cathode electrodes of the first set being connected to cathode electrodes of the second set respectively, a first anode electrode corresponding to the first set of cathode electrodes, and a second anode electrode corresponding to the second set of cathode electrodes; and a pulse generator supplying at least one pulse to a selected electrode of the one type, in synchronism with a pulse supplied to a selected electrode of the other type, so that a selected numbered cathode electrode is operative to indicate a number which is equal to the number stored in the register stage associated with the selected electrodes.

A side viewing number tube a flying lead base and a dynamic readout circuit in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a front elevation of a number tube;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a number tube;

FIG. 3 is a view of a cathode;

FIGS. 43 and 5 are plane views of modified barrier and spacer; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic circuit diagram of a dynamic readout circuit.

A number tube ll includes a pair of anodes 2, 3 in the form of two U-shaped boxes contained in a transparent envelope of glass (not shown) and placed one on top of the other. Each anode consists of a rear wall and two side parts, the side parts being of reduced width about their middle parts. Each anode is formed on the fourth side by a honeycomb lattice work of channel shape. This honeycomb lattice work also covers the reduced width parts of the side parts to complete a rectangular container open at both ends. The two anodes are separated by a barrier d of sintered glass which serves to insulate one anode from the other. This barrier serves as means to prevent the glow formed in the top part of the tube spreading into the bottom half of the tube and vice versa. This sheet may be of an insulating material other than sintered glass, for example mica or ceramic material. The top end of the uppermost anode is closed with an insulating cap 5 of mica and the lower end of the lowermost anode is also closed with spacer sheet of mica 6. A plurality of cathodes 7 are made of steel stamped cut from a sheet and included within each anode and represent the numbers 0 to 9. Each cathode 7, as best shown in FIG. 3, is in the tom of a pair of numerals, each numeral representing the same number. The numerals h of each cathode are joined by a separating strip it and at each opposite end have an annular extension 10 to connect the cathode to a support. Each cathode extends downwardly beyond the annular extension of the lower cathode into an extension part ll which serves for connection to the respective cathode pin of the envelope.

Each annular extension lid of each cathode fits over a single post 12, surrounded by an insulating sleeve 12a. Each post projects through the wall of each anode to pass through the circular end parts W of the numbered cathodes '7 to retain them within the anode in a stack (FIG. 2). The extension parts 1111 of the cathodes '7 are passed through holes (not shown) in the mica base sheet 6. The parts It are then passed through slots in a third mica base 116. The respective parts iii are connected to pins M secured in the glass base 115. A pair of wires 17, litil are connected to a respective projection 19 from each of the respective anodes, 2, 3i, and have respective insulating sleeves 36 located around them. The cathodes and the anodes are still all housed within a glass envelope (not shown), the base of which is constituted by the glass base is through which the pins M pass.

The anodes and cathodes are contained in the transparent envelope containing a rare gas, preferably neon, with a small quantity (about one percent by volume) of argon. In addition, mercury is introduced into the envelope to maintain mercury vapor in the tube. The slight excess of mercury is included to increase the life of the cathodes.

The mercury is introduced by placing an evacuated capsule of mercury 33 within a tungsten spiral 3M carried between two spare wires on the base. To transfer the mercury into the tube, current is passed through the tungsten spiral. This causes the mercury to expand and this is sufficient to fracture the capsule. The mercury then becomes dispersed in the tube.

A getter, for example a zirconium compound, is introduced into the tube and is supported on a tray 29H. This getter compound IS heated and because of its affinity for oxygen absorbs unwanted gases that may be released throughout the life of the tube. FIG. 4 shows the barrier separator 4 made of sintered glass constituting the barrier between the top and bottom halves of the tube. FIG. 5 shows a spacer 32 also of sintered glass to isolate each cathode from the next.

Two number tubes, as hereinbefore described. can be incorporated, for example in a dynamic readout circuit, are illustrated diagrammatically at HO. 6. As shown, each number tube 1 has its first anode 2 connected to a first switch or switching circuit 20, and this in turn is connected to a stage of a first multistage register 21 of the calculating machine and to a pulse generator 22. Similarly, the anodes 3 are connected to a switching circuit 23 which is intum connected to a stage of a second multistage register 24 of the calculating machine. These registers 21 and 24 are preferably dynamic-type registers in which the numbers stored are circulated. The anodes of the first number tube are connected to the first stage of a respective register and the anodes of the second number tube are connected to the second stage of a respective register, etc. The register 24 is also connected to the pulse generator 22. The pulse generator 22 is also connected to a switch operating means or driver 25 which controls the operation of switches or switch circuits 26 in synchronism with the operation of the pulse generator. The cathodes of the respective number tubes are connected to the switching circuits 26. The cathodes representing the same numerals are connected to the same switching circuit 26. This switch operating means and switches 26 are shown diagrammatically and are preferably of the electronic-type. lf pulses are emitted by the pulse generator 22 to circulate within the stage the numbers stored in the stages of the registers 21 and 24, the switches 26 will move in synchronism with the operation of the pulse generator 22 so that at each succeeding pulse the switch 26 will move from one position to the next during the tie a single pulse is being emitted by the pulse generator 22. When the train of 10 pulses are passed into the registers 21 and 24, a carry pulse will be given off once in each stage during each passage of ten pulses into the registers 21, 24 and when this carry pulse will be emitted depends upon the number stored in each stage of the registers 21 and 24. lt will be apparent that if the number seven is stored in the first stage of register 21, a train of ten pulses will move on the number in the first stage of the register so that when three pulses are applied to the first stage of the register 21 this will cause the first stage of the register 21 to move to the zero condition. At this zero time, a carry pulse will be emitted to the switching circuit and consequently the time at which the pulse is carried will correspond to the complement of the numbers stored in the first stage of the register 21. Thus, if the switch 26 is made to start from the zero position and move into reverse direction, that is to say in the direction 9, 8, 7 the carry pulse will be given off at a time corresponding to the complement of the numbers stored in the first stage of the register 21 and because the switch 26 is moved in the reverse direction this will cause the pulse to be passed through the number tube 1 into the circuit including the cathode 7 which corresponds to the number stored in the first stage of the register 21. A similar operation is effective in relation to the number stored in the first stage of the register 24 except that the carry pulse is applied to the switching circuit 23. Passage of the pulse causes say the number seven in the upper half of the number tube to glow and causes say the number six stored in the register 24 to glow in the lower half of the number tube. The barrier 4 (FIGS. 1 and 2) serves to separate the glow of the cathode numbered seven in the upper half of the tube from the glow of the cathode numbered six in the lower half of the numbered tube.

Likewise the number tubes can be incroporated in a circuit of the kind described in our copending Application for Patent No. 58858/67.

It will be apparent that a different number tube is connected to a respective stage of each of the registers 21, 24 so that the number stored in the respective stages of the registers can be indicated on the number tubes. lf the calculating machine has more than two registers, the machine may have more than two sets of cathodes for each number. On the other hand, a double number tube and switch means may be included so that the stage of the register whose stored number is to be indicated may be selected under the control of the switch means.

if a plurality of number tubes as above described are to be included in a pair of registers in a calculating machine, the numeral cathodes representing the corresponding numbers of the number tubes of the display are strapped together. Thereby fewer connections are required for connecting the number tubes in the display.

Although it is intended that the number tubes as above described are to be used in a display incorporating two registers, the numbers in the tube may be made of a size equivalent to half the size of the numbers in other number tubes of a display and these smaller sized number tubes can then be used to display fractions. For example, in a display which illustrates monetary figures the smaller sized number tubes can represent halfpennies.

It is envisaged that although the numeral cathodes included in the number tubes normally have the upper half numeral cathode of the same size as the lower half numeral cathode, such numeral cathodes may be of different sizes. Thus, the numerals cathodes in the lower half of the number tube may be larger than the numeral cathodes in the upper half of the number tube or vice versa.

It is also envisaged that the cathodes may be in the form of letters, words, symbols or other characters instead of numerals so that such other characters instead of numerals so that such other characters can be displayed.

Furthermore, it will be apparent that although in the em bodiment described the cathodes representing like numbers are joined together such numbers may be different. For example, the cathode may represent the numeral 0 in the top half and the numeral 9 in the bottom half of the tube. In such a case the switching circuit 20 will drive in the opposite direction to the switching circuit 23. Thus, the switching circuit 20 may move to include the respective cathode in circuit in the order 9, 8, 7, 6, etc., while the switching circuit 23 moves to include the respective cathodes in circuit in the order 0, l, 2, 3, etc.

What 1 claim is:

1. A tube to display alpha-numeric characters including an envelope, a first set of alpha-numeric cathodes, a second set of alpha-numeric cathodes, a first anode cooperating with the first set of alphanumeric cathodes and a second anode cooperating with the second set of alphanumeric cathodes and wherein each cathode of the first set of cathodes is connected to a corresponding one of the cathodes of the second set of cathodes defining the same alpha-numeric character.

2. A tube according to claim 1 wherein each cathode of one set is formed integrally with a corresponding cathode of the other set and comprises a doubly alpha-numeric character joined by a separating strip.

3. A tube'according to claim 2 wherein each cathode has an annular extension to connect the cathode to a support.

4. A tube according to claim 1 wherein the envelope contains an atmosphere of a rare gas and mercury vapor.

5. A readout circuit comprising a pair of multistage registers each storing a decimal number; a number tube associated with a corresponding stage of the registers, each of the number tubes having an envelope, a first set of numbered cathode-type electrodes, a second set of numbered chathode-type electrodes of the first set being connected to cathode electrodes of the second set respectively, a first anode-type electrode corresponding to the first set of cathode electrodes and a second anode-type electrode corresponding to the second set of cathode electrodes; and a pulse generator connected to read out the decimal numbers in said registers supplying at least one pulse to a selected electrode of one type, in synchronism with a pulse supplied to a selected electrode of the other type, so that a selected numbered cathode electrode is operative to indicate a number which is equal to the number stored in the register stage associated with the selected electrodes. 

1. A tube to display alpha-numeric characters including an envelope, a first set of alpha-numeric cathodes, a second set of alpha-numeric cathodes, a first anode cooperating with the first set of alpha-numeric cathodes and a second anode cooperating with the second set of alphanumeric cathodes and wherein each cathode of the first set of cathodes is connected to a corresponding one of the cathodes of the second set of cathodes defining the same alpha-numeric character.
 2. A tube according to claim 1 wherein each cathode of one set is formed integrally with a corresponding cathode of the other set and comprises a doubly alpha-numeric character joined by a separating strip.
 3. A tube according to claim 2 wherein each cathode has an annular extension to connect the cathode to a support.
 4. A tube according to claim 1 wherein the envelope contains an atmosphere of a rare gas and mercury vapor.
 5. A readout circuit comprising a pair of multistage registers each storing a decimal number; a number tube associated with a corresponding stage of the registers, each of the number tubes having an envelope, a first set of numbered cathode-type electrodes, a second set of numbered chathode-type electrodes of the first set being connected to cathode electrodes of the second set respectively, a first anode-type electrode corresponding to the first set of cathode electrodes and a second anode-type electrode corresponding to the second set of cathode electrodes; and a pulse generator connected to read out the decimal numbers in said registers supplying at least one pulse to a selected electrode of one type, in synchronism with a pulse supplied to a selected electrode of the other type, so that a selected numbered cathode electrode is operative to indicate a number which is equal to the number stored in the register stage associated with the selected electrodes. 